IBB Endorses Buhari, Says Retired Generals Will Back Him

  In an apparent endorsement of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, who he overthrew in a bloodless coup 30 years ago, former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has stated that retired generals will support Buhari’s bid for the presidency.

Despite Babangida’s seeming endorsement, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday insisted that the APC presidential candidate’s failure to present his secondary school certificate in order to put paid to questions over his eligibility to contest next month’s election, was indicative that he was not even qualified to have been made a commissioned officer of the Nigerian Army.

Babangida, who made this known on Monday in Minna, Niger State, when Buhari paid him a visit, said: “They will support their own.”

Babangida said he was proud of the persistence and perseverance of Buhari in seeking to offer himself for service at the highest level in the country’s young democracy.

“You have beaten some of us in proving Gen. Douglas Macarthur’s theory that old soldiers never die but fade away gradually. But you have refused to fade away,” he added.

He went on to commended APC for honouring the military by nominating Buhari, stating: “I wish to congratulate members of the party for the honour of nominating my colleague, General Muhammadu Buhari, as your presidential candidate for the 2015 election.”

Babangida also accused the media of misrepresenting his relationship with Buhari, adding that it was far from what had been reported.

“I want to commend APC for choosing our colleague as its standard-bearer. All of us will support you (Buhari) in this course to salvage this country,” IBB stated.

Meanwhile, the PDP has continued to question Buhari’s eligibility to contest next month’s presidential election and went as far as questioning his military career.

In a statement by the Director of Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, the party said: “It is disingenuous for Buhari to say that he contested previous elections and that the issue of his qualifications did not arise.

“Had INEC not complied with the Electoral Act this year, which requires that it pastes the academic credentials of all the presidential candidates, Nigerians would have remained ignorant of the fact that Buhari has probably been submitting affidavits for past elections.”

Culled from Thisday